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VITA tax program offers free income tax preparation
Jon Korejwa, a certified tax professional and Director of Training and Operations for Lamar University’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, invites community members earning less than $57,000 annually to visit him and other volunteers around the area who are providing free tax preparation assistance, helping area residents minimize payments and maximize refunds.
The VITA program is the result of a collaboration between Lamar University (LU), the IRS, Entergy Texas and Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas. The organizations’ joint effort provides free tax-filing services for taxpayers earning less than $57,000 annually who are not able to afford commercial tax preparation fees. Trained volunteers assist individuals with tax preparation, offering guidance on topics like earned income credit. VITA also prepares taxes for non-resident alien taxes 1040-NR) for international students at Lamar University.
“I invite anyone who needs tax help to come talk to one of our volunteers at one of our Beaumont locations,” said Korejwa.
Lamar University received a grant from the IRS in 2008 that allowed the college to start the VITA program. Elton Payne, now deceased, initiated the grant process and administered the program until 2014. Korejwa joined the program in 2011 after hearing a plea for volunteers on KLVI. After receiving training and becoming a certified tax professional thanks to the program, he was was asked by Lamar University to continue the program in 2015.
Last year, VITA completed 738 tax returns and refunded taxpayers $919,480. The program also captured earned income credits, child tax credits and education credits, among other credits for taxpayers.
Because the taxpayer pays no preparation fee, Korejwa estimates VITA saved taxpayers even more than that. He said taxpayers who participated in the program likely saved a whopping $1,476,000 in total tax prep fees based on the average cost of a professionally prepared tax return, estimated at $200.
VITA volunteers will be available during the indicated hours at the following sites:
Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning Feb. 5 and ending April 9 at the Gloria Rameriz Neighborhood Resource Center, 2850 Gulf Street (the old fairgrounds) in Beaumont, phone: (409) 347-7891;
Mondays form 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. beginning Feb. 7 and ending April 11 at Catholic Charities, 2780 Eastex Freeway in Beaumont, phone: (409) 924-4400;
Every other Saturday beginning Feb. 5 and by appointment at the Jackson Community Center, 520 W. Decatur Ave. in Orange, phone (409) 779-1981;
Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning Feb. 9 until April 3 at the St. Vincent DePaul Society, 3730 FM 160 North in Raywood, phone (936) 587-4246.
– Sharon Brooks